Life is either a daring adventure or nothing. (Helen
Keller)
Slide 8
Living the Christian life is like running an endurance
race.
Slide 9
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of
witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin
that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race
marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and
perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the
cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the
throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful
men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Therefore,
strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. Make level paths for
your feet, so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.
(Hebrews 12:1-3, 12-13)
Slide 10
Hear the cheers of the fans in the stands for motivation. Get
rid of encumbrances that will slow you down. Run your race, not
somebody elses. Focus on the world-record holder for inspiration.
Fight through the pain. Dont neglect strength training and road
work.
Slide 11
The besetting weakness of middle age is self-complacency and
unadventurous acceptance of things as they are. (Stephen
Neill)
Slide 12
Living the Christian life is like being disciplined by a loving
father.
Slide 13
In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the
point of shedding your blood. And you have forgotten that word of
encouragement that addresses you as sons: My son, do not make light
of the Lords discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,
because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes
everyone he accepts as a son. Endure hardship as discipline; God is
treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his
father? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes
discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true
sons.
Slide 14
Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and
we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the
Father of our spirits and live! Our fathers disciplined us for a
little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our
good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems
pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a
harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained
by it. (Hebrews 12:4-11)
Slide 15
Divine discipline should come as no surprise. Divine discipline
is an expression of Gods love and a mark of relationship with Him.
The absence of divine discipline should be more disconcerting than
the presence of it. Divine discipline is designed to generate
respect. Divine discipline is intended for our good. Divine
discipline produces the fruit of righteousness.
Slide 16
God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience,
but shouts in our pains: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.
(C. S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain)
Slide 17
Living the Christian life involves disciplining oneself.
Slide 18
Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy;
without holiness no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one
misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause
trouble and defile many. See that no one is sexually immoral, or is
godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance
rights as the oldest son. Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to
inherit this blessing, he was rejected. He could bring about no
change of mind, though he sought the blessing with tears. (Hebrews
12:14-17)
Slide 19
Slide 20
Living the Christian life is like climbing the right
mountain.
Slide 21
You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is
burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm; to a trumpet blast
or to such a voice speaking words that those who heard it begged
that no further word be spoken to them, because they could not bear
what was commanded: If even an animal touches the mountain, it must
be stoned. The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, I am
trembling with fear. (Hebrews 12:18-21)
Slide 22
But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the
city of the living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands
of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose
names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the judge of all
men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, to Jesus the
mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks
a better word than the blood of Abel. (Hebrews 12:22-24)
Slide 23
See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did
not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much
less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven? At
that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, Once
more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens. The
words once more indicate the removing of what can be shaken that
is, created things so that what cannot be shaken may remain.
Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken,
let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence
and awe, for our God is a consuming fire. (Hebrews 12:25-29)
Slide 24
Living the Christian life is like is like running an endurance
race. is like being disciplined by a loving father. involves
disciplining oneself. is like climbing the right mountain.